Description
At 12 years old, Josie never quite fits in. With quirky habits and an oddball personality that just won't click with others, the girl often turns to the refuge of her books. Still driven by curiosity and a taste for adventure, Josie has developed an eye for the exceptional, able to discover beauty in the overlooked, dismissed, and sometimes even the unsettling. Occasions to share what she holds dear are rare, while frictions with her peers are not. After Josie makes a decision that requires her courage yet seems trivial in the grand scheme, unexpected companions enrich her life. Unaware of secrets and the uncanny events around her, the girl struggles with the novelties in her life and soon encounters something that will change her world even more: Magic. All of a sudden, none of the so far familiar rules seem to apply any more. Under the guidance of unseen protectors, Josie stumbles upon forgotten stories and ancient forces while trying to untangle the web of riddles she finds herself in. She also learns that peculiarities can turn into advantages and to trust her own strange instincts, allowing her to unlock hidden strengths along the way. But as the mysteries deepen and the shadows grow darker, the line between friend and foe blurs. Josie is well aware that not everything has to be as it appears at first sight, but will realize that this includes herself. Even her home, Veilwood House, and her life there hold secrets of their own, and not every story ends in light. From kibble to troll markets and ghost trains; from vanished dumplings to injured bogeymen and too-clever-for-their-own-good goblins; from dark sewer tunnels to the political ambitions of secretive Fae - Josie's journey is filled with wonder and peril alike. By blending the urban legends, folklore, and mythology of various cultures with fantasy, this story strives to pay homage to other works and to offer an enchanting yet gritty adventure. Prepare yourselves: there are Knödel to be had.
☽ Author's Indulgence ☾
